NYPD Releases Video Of Black Man Before Fatal Shooting

Saheed Vassell was known to both the Brooklyn community and police as being mentally ill; his father said he had bipolar disorder.

SHOW TRANSCRIPT

The New York City Police Department released video of 34-year-old Saheed Vassell before he was fatally shot by police.

Vassell was known to both the Brooklyn community and police as being mentally ill; his father said he had bipolar disorder.

The video seems to corroborate three 911 calls about a man fitting Vassell's description approaching people and pointing what appeared to be a silver gun at them. As multiple officers approached him, he took what police called a "shooting stance," leading officers to fire 10 shots.

Vassell was actually carrying a silver pipe attached to a cylinder-shaped object. Locals told reporters Vassell was known for picking up trash off the street and playing with it like toys.